Mounting BracketsThorlabs offers fixed cage post mounting brackets for 16, 30, and 60 mm cage systems. These are secured to two cage rods and allow the cage to be mounted to a post via a counterbored hole. We also offer snap-on cage mounting brackets for 30 and 60 mm cage systems. These may be used to post mount cage rods and are easy to install on assembled cage systems.

Post-Clamp MountsThese mounts allow for horizontal mounting of 30 or 60 mm cage systems to the side of our Ø1" (25 mm) or Ø1.5" posts. The CV1530(/M) allows for vertical mounting of a 30 mm cage system and clamps to a Ø1.5" post. We also offer the RA90TR(/M), which allows for horizontal mounting of cage rods to a Ø1/2" post.

Cage System Overview

The Cage Assembly System provides a convenient way to construct large optomechanical systems with an established line of precision-machined building blocks designed for high flexibility and accurate alignment.

Standard Threads

The flexibility of our Cage Assembly System stems from well-defined mounting and thread standards designed to directly interface with a wide range of specialized products. The three most prevalent thread standards are our SM05 Series (0.535"-40 thread), SM1 Series (1.035"-40 thread), and SM2 Series (2.035"-40 thread), all of which were defined to house the industry's most common optic sizes. Essential building blocks, such as our popular lens tubes, directly interface to these standards.

An example of the standard cage plate measurements determining cage system compatibility.

These rods are used to connect cage plates, optic mounts, and other components in the cage system. The SR Series Cage Rods are compatible with our 16 mm cage systems, while the 30 mm and 60 mm cage systems use ER Series Cage Rods.

These serve as the basic building blocks for a cage system. They may have SM-threaded central bores, smooth bores sized for industry standard optics or to accommodate the outer profile of our SM Series Lens Tubes, or specialized bores for other components such as our FiberPorts.

These cubes are useful for housing larger optical components, such as prisms or mirrors, or optics that need to sit at an angle to the beam path, such as beamsplitters. Our cage cubes are available empty or with pre-mounted optics.

On the CP02B, the 4-40 set screws for locking to ER rods normally enter from the top (as oriented in your photos). The drawing and model shows the set screw holes extending through the entire part, but do not indicated if they are tapped all the way through, as well. Is it possible (on the stock part) to insert the 4-40 set screws from the bottom? Thank you.

nbayconich
&nbsp(posted 2018-01-09 03:07:44.0)

Thank you for contacting Thorlabs. The 4-40 taps are tapped through the bottom of the CP02B so set screws can be inserted from the bottom of the bracket.

lior
&nbsp(posted 2016-04-20 18:36:00.78)

Greetings,
The LCP01B arrives with two cap screws, clamping the flexure locks to the ER rods. I'm afraid these screws are imperial, while the part is supposed to be universal. Do you plan to offer this part with metric screws as well?
Thanks,
Lior

besembeson
&nbsp(posted 2016-04-21 01:27:27.0)

Response from Bweh at Thorlabs USA: Thanks for pointing this to us. We are going to consider adding the suitable hex key with the part (short term) to keep this universal. Long term, we will alter the design to use a #3 cap screw that has a universal 5/64 (2mm) hex key.

cbrideau
&nbsp(posted 2014-01-15 18:41:22.543)

Is it possible to get something like this, which supports the cage vertically, for your 1" posts instead of 1.5"?

jlow
&nbsp(posted 2014-01-23 05:00:32.0)

Response from Jeremy at Thorlabs: We do not currently carry a vertical cage mount for Ø1" post (but we can custom make this). We will look into the possibility of carrying this in the future.

30 mm Cage Mounting Bracket

Cage Rods (Not Included) are Locked into Place with Top-Located Setscrews

Bracket Offers Clearance for SM1 Lens Tubes

The CP02B provides a compact mounting option for incorporating 30 mm Cage Systems into optomechanical assemblies. Three #8 (M4) counterbored mounting holes allow this adapter to be used with our standard post and post holders in addition to OEM applications, which require secure mounting into a larger system (post and post holder not included).

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey

60 mm Cage System with SM02 Lens TubeMounted on a Ø1/2" Post Post Using an LCP01B Adapter

60 mm Cage System Compatible

Firmly Lock onto Ø6.0 mm ER Rods with Flexure Locking Design

The LCP01B allows 60 mm Cage Systems to be incorporated into other optomechanical assemblies. This cage plate adapter has a flexure cut design for increased stability. It has two Ø0.24" (Ø6.0 mm) through holes with cap screws that clamp the flexure locks onto the Ø6.0 mm ER Rods (not included). It has three #8 (M4) counterbored holes for post mounting and has been specially designed to provide clearance for SM2 Lens Tubes as shown in the photo on the right.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey

These cage mounting brackets provide users with a snap-on solution for adding support posts to assembled 30 mm Cage Systems. The flexure-based design can be quickly snapped onto an open section of two Ø6.0 mm Cage Rods (not included), allowing for easy installation or removal without requiring the disassembly of a cage system. Slide the brackets into the appropriate position and lock into position using the included 0.050" hex key. The slotted post-mounting feature of the brackets allows the cage rods to be installed off the axis of the post (see above for adjustment ranges).

Two options are available for post mounting. The CPMA1 features a slotted #8 (M4) counterbore that allows for mounting of the adapter using an 8-32 (M4) capscrew (included). This is useful for supporting 30 mm cage systems using fixed posts, such as our Ø1" (25.0 mm) posts with 8-32 (M4) taps, as the cage system can be rotated and then fixed to the post at any arbitrary angle. Alternatively, the CPMA2(/M) offers a captive 8-32 (M4 x 0.7) nut in a slot for mounting to Ø1/2" posts in Ø1/2" post holders.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey

These cage mounting brackets provide users with a snap-on solution for adding support posts to assembled 60 mm Cage Systems. The flexure-based design can be quickly snapped onto an open section of two Ø6.0 mm Cage Rods (not included), allowing for easy installation or removal without requiring the disassembly of a cage system. Slide the brackets into the appropriate position and lock into position using the included 0.050" hex key. The slotted post-mounting feature of the brackets allows the cage rods to be installed off the axis of the post (see above for adjustment ranges).

Two options are available for post mounting. The LCPMA1 features a slotted #8 (M4) counterbore that allows for mounting of the adapter using an 8-32 (M4) capscrew (included). This is useful for supporting 60 mm cage systems using fixed posts, such as our Ø1" (25.0 mm) posts with 8-32 (M4) taps, as the cage system can be rotated and then fixed to the post at any arbitrary angle. Alternatively, the LCPMA2(/M) offers a captive 8-32 (M4 x 0.7) nut in a slot for mounting to Ø1/2" posts in Ø1/2" post holders.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey

The C1026(/M) and C1060(/M) Cage System Clamps for Ø1" (Ø25 mm) Posts are designed to support 30 mm and 60 mm cage systems, respectively. Two parallel cage rods can be placed in the clamp and locked in place with a single screw. In this way, complete cage system sections can be supported by a single post. The clamp itself can be secured to a Ø1" (Ø25 mm) post by tightening the highly stable flexure lock mechanism with a 3/16" (5 mm) balldriver.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey

The CH1530(/M) and CH1560(/M) Cage Clamps allow 30 mm or 60 mm cage systems, respectively, to be mounted horizontally to our Ø1.5" Posts. The quick-connect mechanism allows for drop-in/drop-out mounting of a cage segment; to secure the cage segment, tighten the hex cap screw on the cage clamping mechanism using a 9/64" (3 mm) hex key or balldriver. Each cage clamp includes a C15QR(/M) Quick-Release Handle for mounting to a Ø1.5" post; additional quick-release handles can be purchased separately below. For low-profile applications, the handle can be removed and replaced with a 1/4"-20 (M6) cap screw at least 1/2" (12 mm) long.

The application to the right shows the CH1530 supporting a cage system composed of 4 ER6 cage rods, an SM1Z Z-Axis Translation Mount, and a CP02T cage plate. This system can be used as a telescope to expand or contract the beam diameter using lenses of appropriate focal length placed in the Z-axis mount and cage plate.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey

The CV1530(/M) Cage Clamp allows a 30 mm cage system to be mounted vertically to our Ø1.5" Posts. The quick-connect mechanism allows for drop-in/drop-out mounting of a cage segment; to secure the cage segment, tighten the cap screw on the cage clamping mechanism using a 9/64" (3 mm) hex key or balldriver. Each cage clamp includes a C15QR(/M) Quick-Release Handle for mounting to a Ø1.5" post; additional quick-release handles can be purchased separately below. For low-profile applications, the handle can be removed and replaced with a 1/4"-20 (M6) cap screw at least 1/2" (12 mm) long.

The vertical cage clamp can be converted to a horizontal cage clamp. To do so, unscrew the four cap screws on either side of the cage clamps using a 9/64" (3 mm) balldriver or hex key, turn the front plate 90°, and replace the cap screws.

The application to the right shows the CV1530 mount supporting a 30 mm cage system in a vertical orientation. The assembly is composed of four ER4 cage rods, an SM1Z Z-Axis Translation Mount, and a CP02 cage plate. This configuration can be used in a variety of applications including the inspection station shown to the right, which consists of a CMOS Camera, a Camera Lens, and a Microscope Objective.

Custom CV1530(/M) Clamp Mounts can be ordered for 16 and 60 mm cage system compatibility. Please contact Tech Support for more information.

Based on your currency / country selection, your order will ship from Newton, New Jersey